Zaza Pachulia’s injury means a heavier load of minutes for starting center John Henson and additional time for rookie Miroslav Raduljica.

St. Francis — A thin Milwaukee Bucks front line became a bit thinner with Monday's news that veteran center Zaza Pachulia would be out at least four weeks with a fractured calcaneus bone in his right foot.

Pachulia suffered the injury in Wednesday night's game against Detroit, and an exam conducted by team doctor Michael Gordon revealed the fracture. Pachulia will be re-examined in four weeks to determine if further action is needed.

In the short term Pachulia's injury means a heavier load of minutes for starting center John Henson and additional time for rookie Miroslav Raduljica.

But Pachulia preferred to take a long-term view after practice Monday. The Bucks later headed south by bus to Chicago, where they will meet the Bulls at the United Center on Tuesday night.

"Before the all-star break we hope we're going to have everybody back," Pachulia said. "And after the break we hope we're going to have healthy bodies and finish the season strong.

"This isn't only a one-year goal. You want to finish strong. That way you feel good about yourself, about next year.

"I don't want to sound like I'm already thinking about next year, but it's a process. I understand where the process is."

In the past few weeks several young players have increased their roles, including Henson, Khris Middleton, Brandon Knight and rookies Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nate Wolters. Both Antetokounmpo and Wolters moved into the playing rotation.

The 6-foot-11 Henson has averaged 36.3 minutes in the last three games and played 45 minutes in the Bucks' overtime victory in Washington on Friday, when he contributed 19 points and 17 rebounds.

Bucks coach Larry Drew said Henson is proving he can handle a bigger workload.

"It was a big concern," Drew said. "In looking at him in the past and talking to everybody here, that was one of the things that was a question mark, his durability and stamina.

"But he's really logged some minutes on back-to-backs. I think he's getting over the hump in that area.

"He's a guy we really have to keep our eye on from a matchup standpoint. He's going to give up physical strength in some matchups. Thank goodness we don't play against a guy like (Brook) Lopez on a daily basis."

Drew can turn to power forward Ekpe Udoh to battle against some of the bigger bodies. And the bulkiest player on the Bucks roster, the 7-1, 270-plus pound Raduljica (pronounced ra-DOO-liht-za), will get his chance.

"We have to play guys who originally were not part of the rotation," Drew said. "He (Raduljica) is a young guy who doesn't have playing experience. He'll certainly be cast into a situation now where he'll have to play some extended minutes."

Radjuljica played 9 minutes Saturday and scored eight points while matched up against Lopez, who dominated the paint while scoring a season-high 32 points in Brooklyn's victory.

Pachulia, who signed a three-year deal with Milwaukee during the off-season, said he believes the younger players can hold their own.

"He's definitely growing," Pachulia said of Henson, who will turn 23 on Dec. 28. "His confidence level is up.

"You can tell from his moves. He believes in himself and his talent. And he's a hard worker, too.

"He's one of the players that I love playing with. I can't wait to see this young man keep getting better. He's going to be great."

Pachulia played in 17 games and made 11 starts while averaging 6.9 points and 6.5 rebounds in 25.2 minutes. He ranked fourth in the league in free throw shooting at 93.3%, hitting 42 of 45 attempts.

Pachulia was not the only part of Monday's injury report. Veteran small forward Caron Butler is expected to be out another week to 10 days with a swollen left knee, Drew said. Reserve guard Gary Neal did not practice due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot, a nagging injury, and did not make the trip to Chicago.

Center Larry Sanders, who has missed more than a month after tearing a ligament in his thumb in a bar fight, had the pins removed from his thumb. His thumb will be placed in a splint and he will be re-evaluated by doctors soon.

Butler has missed the last six games after his knee became swollen on a trip to Charlotte.

"I'm starting to move now and get more active," Butler said. "Only missing two or three games last year (with the Los Angeles Clippers) and now missing so many games early on, it's frustrating.

"But I've got to be patient and let the healing process take its course."